RMERF counts, November 08

Thursday, November 08 Mount Lorette [Day 46] 0745-1725 (Cliff Hansen, assisted by Rick Robb). The temperature at 0745 was -14C, the high was -1C at 1500 and it was -4C at 1725. Ground winds were S-SW all day, 0-5 km/h to 1300 then 5-10 occasionally gusting 15 km/h, while ridge winds were light to moderate SW. It was cloudless all day. A total of 14 Golden Eagles (9a, 1j, 4u) migrated along the Fisher Range between 1223 and 1708 but the first bird that glided above the ridge was not seen until 1615. Movement was slow but steady and the maximum hourly count was 4 birds between 1300 and 1400. Two non-migrant adult Bald Eagles perched by the river, and other birds seen were 3 Canada Geese, 3 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 4 Common Ravens and 1 American Dipper. Thirty-nine young people and helpers from the Central Alberta Refugee program (CARE) in Red Deer visited the site today.

9.67 hours (475) GOEA 14 (2598) TOTAL 14 (3018)

Thursday, November 08Vicki Ridge [Day 43] 0845-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). The temperature at 0845 was -4C, the high at 1400 was 1C and it was -3C at 1700. Winds were steady W-WNW 20-30 gusting 40 km/h and it was cloudless all day. After 3 days with almost no movement today produced a fairly strong late-season count of 45 migrants of 4 species between 0858 and 1613. The count comprised 9 Bald Eagles (7a, 2sa), 3 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 32 Golden Eagles (27a, 2sa, 3j) which is the highest count since October 29, and 1 Prairie Falcon. Movement was fairly steady throughout with maximum hourly counts of 10 (1100-1200) and 9 (1500-1600). A non-migrant adult Northern Goshawk was also seen. Other birds seen included about 60 Common Ravens with up to 30 birds seen soaring at one time above a gut-piles from a recently hunted Elk that also attracted the attention of several of the migrant eagles, 107 Bohemian Waxwings and 45 Common Redpolls.

Thursday, November 08 Steeples [Day 45] 1230-1700 (Vance Mattson, observing from the South Lakit site). The temperature was 1C conditions were calm and cloud cover was 60-30% stratus and cumulus that gave plenty of sunshine. The ridges remained obscured most of the afternoon and only cleared between 1608 and 1630 but, like yesterday, migrants soared low and at length in front of the shrouded ridges. Eleven migrant eagles were counted between 1348 and 1631 comprising 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) and 9 Golden Eagles (8a, 1j). At 1458 an adult Golden Eagle and a juvenile Bald Eagle soared together in front of the ridge, with the Bald Eagle being the higher of the two. The juvenile bird could not resist diving on the Golden Eagle, and as its second attempt was underway the Golden pumped its wings to meet it half-way and backed it off while simultaneously scolding it. This succeeded in separating the two birds as they continued gliding south at a respectful distance from each other.

About RMERF

Since 1992, Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation (RMERF) volunteers have performed annual raptor migration counts at the same site location in the Kananaskis Country, Alberta, spring and fall; significantly providing data to the understanding of and amazement in watching Golden Eagles.